Mike Smith trying to instill playoff toughness in Falcons
Falcons coach Mike Smith realizes the Falcons will be "scrutinized" for their playoff performances after two postseason losses.
First, let’s get past the flaws.
The Falcons are thin on the offensive line, sporadic in the secondary. Passes have been dropped. Tackles have been missed. Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards – sorry, no rebates.
But every NFL playoff team has flaws, even the best one. Ask the Green Bay Packers about their 32nd-ranked defense.
The playoffs open this week. This is a good time for the Falcons to remind themselves of the one absolute truth in football that’s never changed, regardless of any second-guessing of the offensive coordinator or the quarterback’s Tramon Williams’ blind –spot: A punch in the mouth is the great equalizer.
The Falcons have talent. But they are 0-2 in the playoffs under this regime and they’ve struggled against good teams this season. To succeed in this postseason, they’ll need to win on the road, in the cold and/or difficult surroundings — New York this week, potentially Green Bay and New Orleans thereafter. That will require a mental and physical toughness they’ve consistently lacked this season and certainly in playoff losses to Arizona in 2008 and Green Bay last season.
Coach Mike Smith acknowledged, “I understand we’ll be scrutinized in the playoffs. That’s a natural. But it shouldn’t take away from what we’ve accomplished so far.”
It doesn’t take away. But it does leave some with thoughts of an imaginary ceiling.
Smith realizes bragging rights associated with his 43-21 regular-season record, as great as it is, carries a limited freshness date. At some point, the Falcons need to win a playoff game, and that point might very well be now.
One common theme in the two playoff losses: turnovers. The Falcons committed seven. But it’s not that simple.
The former linebacker and noted philosopher, Dick Butkus, once said, “When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately — unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something.”
Now, this shouldn’t be viewed as a rallying cry for the Falcons to take the New York Giants out at the knees Sunday (notwithstanding the comical ramblings of Justin Tuck, who already views the Falcons as cheaters and “dirtbags”). It’s more about what Atlanta hasn’t been for much of this season and in the postseason: a physically and mentally tough team.
That’s odd, given, as Smith said, “A team takes on the personality of its coach.”
He coached smart, tough, physical defenses in Jacksonville (as coordinator) and Baltimore (linemen and linebackers). His Jaguars beat Pittsburgh in the 2007 playoffs before losing to unbeaten New England. His Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000. He knows what it takes to be successful in the postseason and has tried to instill that in the Falcons. To this point he’s 0-for-2.
“When you’re in the playoffs, you know it’s win or go home — there’s a finality to it,” Smith said. “Everything is heightened in terms of your preparation, mentally and physically. You can’t look past what’s going on on that play, at that moment. The teams I’ve been on that have won postseason games, they’ve had that focus. They were prepared for the ebbs and flows in a game.”
Smith wouldn’t divulge what he’ll tell his team the night before the game in New York. But I’m guessing he just touched on elements of it. The Falcons weren’t prepared last season before the Green Bay playoff game. Smith acknowledges now that he botched the bye week, giving players “too much down time.” He wanted them to be fresh, but by game day they had lost their edge.
The way Aaron Rodgers was playing, maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference. But neither would it have been 42-14 in the third quarter.
If the Falcons win Sunday in New York, it will be because they were the smarter, tougher team. That wasn’t the case earlier this season against Green Bay, and it also wasn’t the case in losses to Houston, New Orleans (twice) and Chicago.
The Falcons have flaws, but those flaws aren’t going to keep this team from going anywhere.
“We have talent,” Smith said. “We have to play at a higher level than we’ve played all season to win in the playoffs.”
It’s the next step this team needs to take.
By Jeff Schultz
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273 comments Add your comment
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
9:49 pm
Dang Charlie, I wished you in 2012… And I didn’t Mayweather you on the break… What do you want, 3 wise men and a manger?
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
9:49 pm
^^^^
“Well”
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
9:52 pm
Thanks JSS, but I was truly hurt to be called a racist. I am not, and if I hurt anyone with my words, I truly apologize. I just got carried away with the nonsense. But I do want to see Matt Ryan, CS, and company have success this weekend. I think they have worked hard and deserve it, but if they so lose, I am confident they will continue to strive to reach the next level. That is all I ask for.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
9:56 pm
No you did not JSS, it is all good…and for the record, I know Cam is gonna be great…but I would wish he waited until he earned the right to do his superman pose…..but I am old school…..And I hope you respect what Ice has achieved one day too.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
I posted this under Ledbetter’s article, but it probably belonged here below the bi-line of the man ready to make changes to the staff if they lose in the playoff opener.
You guys who want to fire the staff make me laugh, including and especially Jeff Schultz. Do any of you remember where we were before this staff was hired? Go count the banners in those rafters at the dome from the 40 years of football before Smith, Mularky, Van Gorder and the QB y’all like to call a choker got here. Saying you’d like to replace anyone on this staff makes you a complete imbecile when it comes to understanding the NFL. I can understand that from casual fans, from a professional writer like Schultz is a joke.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
10:00 pm
That Cam thing is between and the other guys, I just know that he’s gonna be a good (notice I didn’t say great) as long as the Cats keep an O-line in front of him and a Steve Smith like talent around to make his job easier… The other stuff is just his stick, everyone can’t be Barry Sanders…
Eric C.
January 3rd, 2012
10:02 pm
Phil, just giving you some friendly advice…if you don’t want to watch the game, why bother?
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
10:03 pm
The Julio Jones trade up was the best thing ever done by Falcon’s management?
IMO thats a slap in the face to our HoF tight end.
Now to talk logically, the whole ordeal can be fixed, but we would need to make a trade. Most probably Roddy White for draft picks. And for Garfield’s sake please dont draft another wide out when we needed defense help. Anyone who knew what was on the table when we make our pick of Jones has to believe that Mularkey had his hand in this. “Arthur I promise our offense will score more points if you get me just one more weapon.”
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
10:04 pm
Ed, you can’t just be happy because they aren’t the old guys… Folks in NY could have done that with Ray Perkins, instead when they Parcellls the job, they demand more, and he delivered… Time to either cook, or get out of the kitchen and call Paula Deen!
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:12 pm
I did not like the trade for Jones when it was made. Funny thing is Schultz and most of you posting on this page did. He looks fantastic as a rookie, and now y’all want to bash the decision.
The guy has huge upside.
I’m doubting very seriously when it’s all said and done anyone would trade Julio for Jimmy Smith or Mahammad Wilkerson, next years #20 pick and whoever else it turns out the Falcons gave up.
You act as if these picks are automatic…… I point to Sam Baker, Peria Jerry, Jamaal Anderson, Aundrey Bruce and players throughout the league and say, Be glad we’ve got Julio for the next several years. He’s gonna be a really good one.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:16 pm
@jss
Ray Perkins went 6-10, 4-12, 9-7, 4-5 in New York.
Mike Smith took over a team expected by Vegas to win 4 games his first year and won the division. Won more games this year than Perkins ever did.
What exactly is your point?
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
Ed,
I understand your point. Julio does have good upside.
But we didnt need a wide receiver. Our team was Super Bowl ready last year with a few defense tweaks. In my book, a few defensive tweaks doesnt mean letting two great defense players go and then trading the best picks we will have for two years for a wide receiver.
I wasnt being a pick to Monday about the Drew Bree’s comparison. What would New Orleans think if the team traded two years of their best picks for a quarterback right after Drew broke the single season passing record?
The Falcons didnt get beat by Green Bay because of a lack of wide out. We lost because our secondary is pathetic.
FlySober
January 3rd, 2012
10:23 pm
Smitty is a good Coach ~ they will need a new OC and DC for next year ~ COUNT ON IT! Thomas ~ hire Spags…
falcons4me
January 3rd, 2012
10:25 pm
God I hope our Falcons win. All these (with the exception of a couple) pessamistic comments are just pittiful. I for one am proud of our team and its accomplishments. Sure I want a playoff win and more, there is not a single Falcon or Staff Member who doesn’t…but to pretend I have all the right answers and can manage this team or perform better than any of these athletets from the comfort of my little laptop…give me a break guy’s. GO Falcons and shut these critics up. PLEASE! Yep, including you Schultz.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
10:26 pm
@ Ed…
9-7 had Perkins being treated he was god… Did you miss the earlier decade and a half? That franchise was the like Falcons under Marion Campbell…
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:31 pm
Why Chipper,
I did not say I loved the decision when it was made.
They can’t play another QB on the other side of Drew Brees, so that argument doesn’t apply.
Roddy is aging.
The Packers had mulitiple dynamic Wide receivers is why you know our DB’s were pathetic.
I get your points more than JSS, but I still think your thinking is flawed. The Jones pick would have been terrible if he looked like he was going to be above average. I think he’s showing signs of being fantastic.
To fly sober,
I’m all for hiring Spags. That’s an upgrade if it’s possible. To fire Van Gorder for someone I haven’t heard of is absurd. I doubt Spags takes the DC job under a defensive minded head coach.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:32 pm
@JSS
Smith’s results more closely resemble Parcells than Perkins.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
10:36 pm
Ed, I was frustrated with Julio and called him a bust. I also had a tit for tat with JSS regarding exactly what a blockbuster trade even was…but, he has missed assignments, and dropped passes, had some nagging injuries, not to mention one high profile fumble….in other words, he has played like a rookie. but still put up some quality numbers, and has made just enough jaw dropping plays for me to have some hope that we might be able to pull of a few upsets in the coming weeks…..
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
10:38 pm
And remember 4-5 was the strike year, Stubborn Ray lost 4 games by a combined 31 points… He ran home to Bama, Parcells first season was a disaster, but got everyone to buy in even got Phil Simms to finally resemble an NFL QB… The rest is history…
I can’t go left or right on Jones because Dimitroff has been so lukewarm with high line picks… People love Weatherspoon, Moore, and Jones but sooner or later they have to be on field more each season… The IR is filled too often…
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
10:40 pm
Green Bay has the worst defense in the NFL, New England was 31, they are the two #1 seeds. NFL is changing….but I think it will all come back to center….
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
We went 13-3 with Julio, we did not get him to improve on our regular season. If if he plays like he did Saturday, if Ice can toss a balloon to double coverage like Stafford does with Megatron, it just might be the piece TD thought he was to begin with.
Why Chipper Why
January 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
you mean without Julio.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:53 pm
@JSS,
Alright JSS, I’m feeling your love for Parcells. So how do you know we hire Parcells and not Mike Singletary, June Jones, Steve Spagnolo or Steve Spurrier? If you can promise me that, I say we fire them all.
Also, what if the Giants had made a coaching change after Parcells went 3-12-1, 9-7, 10-6 his first 3 years searching for the next Parcells. What would that history tell us then?
Your other 2 points miss the mark with me. I’d argue that Matt Ryan and the team is buying in to Smith’s system. I’d argue that Bobby Petrino and Jim Mora make Marion Campbell look like Bill Walsh (2-14, 6-10 in his first 2 years…. would you fire him).
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Mr Charlie,
I’m with you. He certainly looked like a rookie, more times than not.
It took Roddy White 5 years to not look like a rookie. Hopefully it took Julio 16 weeks.
Steve-O
January 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
Choke certainly enjoys being a badarse behind his keyboard blogging anonymously. Such a man.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
Perkins took longer because was pre-unrestricted free agency and the USFL started raiding teams Parcells left the normal comparison in year 2, he won a playoff game… In year 4 he won the Super Bowl…
ed
January 3rd, 2012
11:00 pm
And how in the hell did Ray Perkins of all people get thrown into the argument.
Dan Reeves at Denver would have been a reasonable fire a good coach argument.
I can’t believe I’m dumb enough to get drawn into a mike smith = ray perkins argument.
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
11:05 pm
BIll Walsh was asked to rebuild a program destroyed that imbecile Joe Thomas. Everyone knew that it was to take a moment. He orchestrated 3 of the greatest draft deals in history. And he hit defensive jackpot with Fred Dean the MLB Reynolds. People were so busy being star-struck by the possibilities of what Bennett and LeBaron were assembling here in Atlanta and the Rams were still descent. That is what saved Walsh… No, the minute he drafted Eric Wright and Ronnie Lott, I said Whoa!!!
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
11:06 pm
Dan Reeves participated in more Superbowls in any person in history, and it is a record that will never be broken. As a player, coach and HC, he was in like 8 or 9. Think about it, in 98, he was on the sideline for 25% or all Superbowls ever played.
Not to mention, he took a team to the playoffs with Chris Chandler. He was just unfortunate enough to have played in the Bill Walsh era. The man knows football, but he ain’t no genius, but his success speaks for itself.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
11:06 pm
@JSS,
So who is the next Parcells JSS. You told me who the current Ray Perkins is. How do you find this no name assistant that we know wins 2 Super Bowls?
If You’re gonna fire a staff winning double digit games every year, winning the division every other year you damn sure better make the perfect hire.
That’s the ludicrous thinking I’m talking about. Why hire the next Parcells, when we could hire the next Bill Walsh or Lombardi? It just shows a lack of knowledge about how difficult winning in the NFL is, and agin it’s more acceptable from guys on this board than Jeff Schultz. He should not be fueling this idiocy.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
11:10 pm
“BIll Walsh was asked to rebuild a program destroyed that imbecile Joe Thomas.” Oh yeah, I forgot JSS knew Smith was inheriting all this talent.
@Charlie
I love Dan Reeves, even if he was a Gamecock. I was just making a point. The ‘98 Falcons were one of the 3 most fun sports related times of my life. I was in the Metrodome live and at the Super Bowl debacle.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
11:10 pm
I believe Belechik has been to 6 superbowls as HC and assistant….Dan has him beat by 50%. He might not have been good enough to beat the niners, but he sure could beat the Browns.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
11:11 pm
Ed, next Parcells? Sean Payton.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
11:14 pm
Sean Payton is a successful head coach, it’s too late to find him. Don’t think you can hire Payton, and JSS would quickly point out Ray Perkins would have never lost to the Seahawks in the playoffs.
I also posted to you a long write up about me loving Dan Reeves that seems to be lost. No energy to repeat.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
11:18 pm
Yea, so we are looking for the next Sean Payton. Who knows….Jim Harbaugh off to a good start, as is his brother. Rob Ryan? LOL.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
11:20 pm
Nahh Dan was an excellent all around football man. Not a great judge of talent, but a good football man. He was the one who said “you are never as good, or as bad, as you think you are” Very true words.
ed
January 3rd, 2012
11:24 pm
No Charlie, my point is if you’re looking for a coach then you don’t understand what’s going on. You have an outstanding coach and time may tell that he is one of the best. In fact I believe it will tell that. I don’t believe any coach has done a better job over the last 4 years than him. The only year he missed the playoffs was the year Ryan went down. The 2 playoff games he lost both were to NFC champion teams. Smith is not going to be replaced for a long time and his opinion is the only one that matters on the coordinators’ jobs for the foreseeable future.
Mr Charlie
January 3rd, 2012
11:37 pm
Ed, I am in agreement. Smitty has done a great job. The playoffs are a crap shoot, luck does play a part.
Smitty also has to learn how to coach a team with a long layoff, but taking a 4-12 team and winning 4 winning seasons in a row, qualifying for the playoffs 3 of those season is much much more of an accomplishment than winning a wild card game against an 9-7 team. There are many more coaches with playoff wins than there are with 4 winning season in a row.
As I said before, I expect Smitty and Ryan to be around about 10-12 more years, in that time, they will qualify for about 7-9 more playoffs….I suspect they will win a game or two before it is all said and done. Art is not stupid.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 3rd, 2012
11:46 pm
JSS
January 3rd, 2012
9:19 pm
@ MCR…
Don’t you love when nare-de-wells try to school us on “what we need to do?” Remember when all of those long ago voices said they’d outlast us? Where are they now? We really should do a “roll-call” one day!
________________________________________________
I guess they don’t know us very well do they?
Those CLOWNS don’t have the word consistency in their vocabularies, not to mention are a bunch of COWARDS when CHOKE does his thing and CHOKE in the games that really matter.
Some of them have big nerves showing their faces around here after what Green Bay did to them in the playoffs & how Drew Brees PUNKED them on national t.v.
They better not hold their breath if they are waiting for me to go away
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 3rd, 2012
11:48 pm
Whodatwasthere?
January 3rd, 2012
9:29 pm
@ Choke. With all your Ryan bashing I bet face to face you would be like a little school girl feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!
_____________________________________________________
Is that anything like you trapped in an alley with Vick……………….
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 3rd, 2012
11:53 pm
Falcants and their LOSER fanbase remind me of Mike Tyson pre fight chatter.
His opponents would talk trash just like the Falcants but when the bell rings they get knocked
the hell out…………..
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 3rd, 2012
11:57 pm
If Andy Reid and his 5 championship game appearance and superbowl is on the “hot seat” then Smitty must be feeling like Sizzlean Bacon…………….
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
12:14 am
ed
January 3rd, 2012
10:16 pm
@jss
Ray Perkins went 6-10, 4-12, 9-7, 4-5 in New York.
Mike Smith took over a team expected by Vegas to win 4 games his first year and won the division. Won more games this year than Perkins ever did.
What exactly is your point?
_____________________________________________
That schedule also included a horrible Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit, Denver & other bottom dwellers.
That was one of the WEAKEST schedule in all of the NFL
Once Recent Reader
January 4th, 2012
12:23 am
Choke . . . .drive me nuts . . .and sometimes you go a bit overboard. But it would be very boring sans MCR here.
Once Recent Reader
January 4th, 2012
12:25 am
But enough of that . . .I really hope that you are forced to move on to the “less playoff” wins than Flacco argument after Sunday. But I’ll be around to take the medicine if I have to read “0-3″ .. .over and over again!
Agent009
January 4th, 2012
12:26 am
Exactly what I have been so charged with… These players need to play with managed ferocity! Is it still legal to smack (ahem) jam a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage? If so, I do not wish to witness anymore opposing receivers just dallying about through the tulips while playing the setting side of pitch and catch with the likes Brees, Rodgers, Eli, et al… Bring the pain!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
1:06 am
What would really make the Falcants go nuts is when the Ravens play in the superbowl this season.
Another 1st for Flacco over CHOKE………………
HA HA HA
There is no team in the AFC that the Ravens can’t dominate.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
January 4th, 2012
1:08 am
Those dirty OLinemen are going to encourage the Giants d to play through the whistle and take a shot at CHOKE………………
What goes around comes around
Once Recent Reader
January 4th, 2012
1:20 am
Thus far the allegedely “non-tough” Ryan has not been hurt by many hard hits for D. It took a very large field to keep him from playing a couple of games. Dastardly Turf!
ohhhhYEAH
January 4th, 2012
1:26 am
What CHOKEonmynuts doesnt seem to realize is that Flacco, unlike Ryan, is NOT the leader of his respective team. Come playoff time Flacco is abismal, he’s just fortunate enough to have to play weak first round opponents and has a great defense to bail him out. The pressure in Baltimore lies on the shoulers of Lewis, Reid, Suggs, and Ray Rice. In Atlanta, All the pressure falls on Matty Ice.
Just for fun, lets see who Flacco has played in his playoff career:
2008: First round- Dolphins, Second-Titans-Conference Champ-Lost to Steelers
2009-First Round-Pats, Second-Lost to Colts
2010-First Round-Cheifs, Second-Lost to Steelers
So yeah, I can see now why you think Flacco is so much better. He had some really big playoff wins against some tough teams huh? Boy those Dolphins and Titans and Cheifs were dangerous foe. The only good team he beat in the playoffs were the Pats. And in the big games against the steelers and Colts, he lost. CHOKED even. But yeah, he’s much greater than Ryan considering both teams Ryan lost to were eventual Super Bowl representatives, one winning it.
Moron